How do we add value? You add value to your reader when you consistently answer the common questions they have. A mistake I often see from fellow bloggers is they want to write “peer to peer.” By that I mean they often forget how incredibly valuable their writing can be when they write answering the basics.

The basics may seem obvious to you, but they’re incredibly helpful and valuable to your audience.

1. Use Yahoo Answers to discover common questions

I think there is a goldmine for every blogger in using Yahoo Answers. The site is set up for your potential audience to ask questions. By using the auto-complete function built into the site, you can come up with several blog post ideas. Just type in your topic and pay attention to the questions that show up (see below).

2. Add a question starter with your topic on Google

Another tip I have found useful is to use a question starter like “how, why, when, or where” before my topical keyword. This will give you a whole new list of questions you may not of thought of (see below).

3. Add letters of the alphabet to get even more blog post ideas

Still need more ideas? Place a letter of the alphabet at the end of your search to get even more ideas. You can use any letter of the alphabet. I will usually start with letter “a” and it will give me more ideas (see below).

I will then move on to the next letter of the alphabet to see what other ideas might come up (see below).

4. Use the Keyword Researcher Tool for even more results

If you want more ideas in a short amount of time, then try out the Keyword Researcher Tool. Ten minutes with this tool might give you more blog post ideas than you have time to write. When I feel as if I’m running short on ideas, I will fire up this tool and let it work its magic.

It basically does everything mentioned above but with more speed and accuracy. What I love about the Keyword Researcher Tool is that it already has the search string ideas ready to go for you. Below is a simple search I did using the keyword “time management.”

As you can see, your audience has lots of questions. They’re just waiting for you to answer them.

Question: What are some of the ways you come up with blog post ideas?

Jonathan has been blogging since 2009 and is still in awe that the Creator of the Universe desires to have a relationship with him. His passions include spending time with his kids, reading, March Madness, surprise get-a-way trips with his wife, and watching funny YouTube videos.

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This is brilliant! Thank you Jonathan. I will definitely try this out.

http://bloggingyourpassion.com/ Jonathan Milligan

Great! Hope it gives you more ideas than you can handle!

http://www.outofdebtagain.com Mrs. Accountability

Very good suggestions and timely as I’ve run completely out of ideas and need a serious jump start. I never even considered using Google search to get suggestions. That’s just genius! Thanks Jonathan!

http://bloggingyourpassion.com/ Jonathan Milligan

Go for it!

Vicky Cox

This is a(nother) great way to get me moving on blogging and quit the excuses.

http://bloggingyourpassion.com/ Jonathan Milligan

Awesome Vicky!

http://www.jenniferhester.com/ Jenny Hester

Thank you for this Jonathan. Very timely for me. I appreciate all you do for us bloggers.

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